SKIPPER Andy Hayward is targeting a top-five finish after Wimborne & Colehill hit the ground running with a 92-run victory over Premier Division rivals Ferndown Wayfarers.

Hayward, who is in his second year at the helm at The Leaze, is hoping to improve on his debut season as captain when he led the Minstermen to sixth.

He said: “It was good to start with a win but it was only the first game so we need to keep working hard because there will be further challenges along the way.

“We are not setting our expectations too high but need to look to improve year on year. I would like to think we could finish higher than last season.”

Hayward heaped praise on teenagers Francis Kerins and Simon Woodruff after their respective exploits had been pivotal to their opening-day triumph.

Dorset under-17 Kerins showed maturity beyond his years to compile a well-crafted 97 – his maiden 50 in the Premier Division – as the Minstermen closed on 206 for four.

After Hayward (27) had given the hosts a platform, Kerins and Graham Cole came together to put on a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 130.

Kerins dug deep to master both the tricky conditions and the visitors’ formidable attack and confidently despatched the ball to all parts of the ground.

His 97 came off 137 balls with Cole (39) undefeated as Wimborne & Colehill claimed maximum batting points.

In reply, Woodruff, bowling a consistently hostile line, claimed the wickets of Matthew Rose and Sanjay Lankage to leave Ferndown Wayfarers reeling on 49 for five.

Although James Raftery (36) showed solid resistance, he became Woodruff’s third victim before the left-arm seamer went on to finish with impressive figures of five for 14 as the visitors were shot out for 114.

Hayward, who praised groundsman Roland Hughes for his sterling efforts, added: “It was good to see the two teenagers do the business. Francis’s big score was key in the context of the match after we had lost the toss and Simon bowled really well in only his second match for the first team.”

• Skipper Roshan Embalagama hit an unbeaten 57 as Parley eased to a five-wicket victory at Stalbridge in the only other Premier Division clash to survive the weather.

Alex Nippard (3-11), Matt Stickland (3-24) and Sam Thomson (2-31) helped restrict the hosts to 137 before Embalagama, Sam Collins (29) and Robbie Gunn (21) saw Parley to 141 for five.

• Dean Elsworthy starred with bat and ball as Ferndown Wayfarers made a winning start in Division One of the Longham Garden Machinery Sunday League.

Elsworthy (3-17), Daryl Baines (2-26) and Karl Jensen (2-33) ensured Bournemouth would be kept down to a modest 150 for nine at Chapel Gate (Michael Fiddaman 24).

And although wickets fell at regular intervals during the Ferndown Wayfarers reply, Elsworthy (45) and opener Jo Pilley (35) steadied the ship to see them home at 151 for seven.